Dr. David E Perkins Sr.

Dr. David E. Perkins, Sr. was born April 7, 1938, in Indianapolis, IN to Minister A. E. Perkins, Sr. and Sister Osie Perkins. Dr. Perkins’ father, Minister A. E. Perkins, was a gospel preacher. Dr. Perkins was named after his uncle, a preacher in Nashville, TN and his grandfather, an elder in Nashville, TN.

Dr. Perkins was united in holy matrimony to the former Ernestine Spivey on December 16, 1966, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Dr. Perkins graduated from Shortridge High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. He served in the United States Air Force as an Airman First Class during the Korean war. He earned his B. S. in Marketing from Sacramento State University. He also received an A. S. in Religion at Central Baptist Seminary, his B. S. and M. S. from Christian Theological Seminary, a Th.D. from Northwestern Seminary and his Ph. D. from the University of South Florida.

Dr. Perkins has served as President and Vice-President of the American Cancer Society, Steering Committee Member for Leadership Development for Public Service, member of the Board of Directors of Youth Volunteer Advisor Corps and Vice-President of Recreation and Youth Affairs for the Meridian Kessler Neighborhood Association.

He has also served as a Steering Committee Member of the Southeastern Regional Lectureship, Steering Committee Member for the Florida State Lectureship and Chairman of the Florida State Lectureship. He was one of the founders of the Southeastern Regional Singing and Chairman of the Preachers Leaders meetings in Tampa, St. Petersburg, FL. and the Bay Area.

Dr. Perkins served the Chaplaincy Service for the Indianapolis Police Department and the Indianapolis Hospital Chaplaincy Service. He served as Assistant Minister to the Church of Christ at Westside and later became its minister. As Ministering Evangelist, he founded the Church of Christ at College Avenue. For two years, he served as minister to Hovey Street and College Avenue at the same time. Leaving College Avenue for a while, he ministered to the Churches of Christ Irving Avenue, now Fairmont Park and Pinecrest, both in St. Petersburg, Florida.

He served on the Executive Committee for the Midwest Lectureship in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was also chairman of the Evangelism committee, soliciting the help of every minister and every member in the city to help him present 100+ new souls from the city of Indianapolis to the Midwest Lectureship in October of 2005 ~ 140 souls were added to the body of Christ and presented to the Lectureship that year.

In October of 2006, Dr. Perkins journeyed to Jamaica with ministers Franklin Florence, II and Stanley Hubbard to plan and support a lectureship among the Churches of Christ in Jamaica. They returned to Jamaica in February of 2007. Dr. Perkins went a week before, teaching a number of Bible Classes, even during the Jamaican Lectureship. A number of souls were added to Christ, and a number were restored. In April of 2007, Dr. Perkins returned to Jamaica where he was responsible to the teaching of more Bible Classes and the viewing of a new building that was being erected by people of the United States supporting the work of the Christians in Jamaica. Another campaign was planned for July of 2007.

Dr. Perkins was Host Minister to the Midwest Lectureship that was held in October 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was, again, the Chairman of the Evangelism Committee, setting a goal of 200 souls during the time of Lectureship planning. He received 100% participation from sister congregations in the city and their dedicated leaders. The 2009 Midwest Lectureship was the most outstanding this city has ever known. He chaired the Executive Committee for that Lectureship and continued to serve on the Executive Board of the Midwest Lectureship until he transitioned from this life.

Dr. Perkins went on a fact-finding investigation of the churches in Trinidad where he helped strengthen the work in that area. Dr. Perkins has been to the United Kingdom to preach the gospel of Christ, and he successfully completed campaigns for Christ in the cities of London and Brighton.

Under the direction of Dr. Perkins, College Avenue has had some of its most successful evangelistic campaigns. Respecting the successfulness of these campaigns, Dr. Perkins continued to work with his ministerial staff of two young preachers: Ty Robinson and Malcolm Cannon. Dr. Perkins was a faithful Minister to the Church of Christ, College Avenue until his death.

Dr. David E. Perkins departed this life Tuesday, February 01, 2022, at the age of 83. He was preceded in death by his parents, One daughter: LaDane. Two sons: David, Jr and Phillip. Two sisters: Daisy and Judge Z. Mae Jimison. Four brothers: Edward, William, Randy, and Leonard,

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 55 years, Ernestine Perkins. His Children: LaDane (deceased), Priscilla (Mike), Phyllis (Brian), Phillip (deceased), David, Jr. (deceased) (Deborah S.), Stephen, Sr. (Shantel), Davia Duncan, Ed Morrison (Carol), Jeff Burris (Lisa) and a host of adopted children (too numerous to name). Grandchildren: Alex Morrison (Tomo), De’Anntoinnette (Mark), Stephen, ll., Jeremiah, Micah Perkins, India Rivera, Noelle, David, Thomas Duncan, Maleah Means, Sienna Smith, Jaden Burris (deceased), Matthew Allen, June Davis, Gracelynn Penn. Great-grandchildren: Cameron, Luke, Isaac, Lazarus, Amora, Justin, Dwayne III., Caleb, Ayden, and Stephen, III. Two Brothers: Alvin Porter, Daniel Perkins, Two Sisters: Estella Perkins, Aquilla Gilmore. Brother In-Laws: John, Linton, Eugene and Henry Spivey and Sister In-Laws: Erma Zendejas and Christine Johnson., and a host of nieces, nephews other relatives, friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ.